The first details and statements after the much-discussed meeting between Chancellor Karl Nehammer and Russian President Vladimir Putin: On the one hand, Nehammer explained that both the previous trip to Ukraine and the talks with Putin had sent a clear signal. On the one hand out of solidarity with Kiev, on the other it was made clear to Putin that this war must now end.
The main message to the Russian president was that “this war must end,” the chancellery said Monday afternoon. The call itself lasted about 75 minutes, the entire reception about 90 minutes.
Therefore, the scene of the event was a country house owned by the Kremlin near Moscow. No hands were shaken and no photos were even shared – allegedly also out of concern that the photos could be misused for (Russian) propaganda purposes.
“Not a friendly visit”
Nehammer himself described the encounter as “very tough”, “very open”, “very direct” – “not a friendly visit,” he stressed. It was “a duty” for him. He wanted “to leave no stone unturned” to bring about a cessation of hostilities or at least humanitarian progress for the suffering civilian population in Ukraine. There is “no alternative to seeking direct dialogue with Russia, despite all the differences”.
Russia’s alleged war crimes were also addressed “in the clearest possible way”. The chancellor also made it clear that sanctions against Russia would continue and in any case be further tightened as long as there are deaths in Ukraine.
The EU is more united than ever on the issue of sanctions. Nehammer will now inform Austria’s European partners about the talks and advise on further steps. “But my main message to Putin was that this war must finally end, because in a war there are only losers on both sides.”
The chancellor was the first EU head of government to travel to Russia since the war broke out. Nehammer visited Ukraine only on weekends and met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal there. He also visited the town of Bucha near Kiev, where numerous bodies of civilians had been found killed after Russian troops withdrew.
The initiative for the trip to Moscow came from him, Nehammer said – while the trip to Ukraine was being planned. Austria had recently expelled four Russian diplomats from the country.
Source: Krone
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